Three sites of council-owned land could be sold to make way for more affordable housing in the borough.

The land adjacent to the community hub in Walton, the currently disused Ansell Hall building and associated land in Oakbank Avenue, Walton, and the former site of the Molesey Centre for the Community, are to be sold to Paragon Community Housing Group.

Under the plans, all of the homes would be “100 per cent affordable”, with the council gaining an undisclosed sum of money from the sale.

Councillor James Browne, portfolio holder for housing, said: “If we have sufficient land unused, we should do something about it and not leave it to rot.

“They [Paragon] find it difficult to find sites in Elmbridge and when they find sites, they get outbid by developers.”

Four flats are planned for the land at the rear of the community hub, which are opposite Paragon’s head office, but the plans will not include provision for car parking.

The Ansell Hall site, which has been disused as its main use since 2008, would be converted into 18 flats by Paragon, who would also build a new hall at no extra cost, which could be used by the community.

The application proposes to demolish the existing buildings and build two in their place, with the first building accommodating a new shop and associated facilities and seven affordable flats.

The second building would see a new community hall built and 11 flats, which would be rented out by the housing group.

At the Molesey Centre for the Community site, which shares a boundary with Radnor House, 15 affordable housing units, open space and parking is proposed.

Paragon currently own the Radnor House site in Hansler Grove and the plans would see the two sites linked together to create the housing, with the current centre for the community relocated to Mole Hall.

Part of the new development would include six apartments as temporary=stay accommodation, to stop the need for bed and breakfast accommodation.

Coun Browne said: “The idea with this proposal is to stop sending people out of the borough for these facilities. I do hope this will put an end to the use of bed and breakfast accommodation.”

The plans, which were recommended for approval by the council’s cabinet on Wednesday, February 12, will now go to a meeting on the full council on February 26 to be considered.